LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A father and son had a close call when a boat trip went horribly wrong on the Mackenzie River last week.

Kelly Pennycook and his four-and-a-half-year-old son Chayton McLeod were travelling from Fort Simpson to Jean Marie River on the evening of June 25. Somewhere below Rabbitskin River Pennycook, 46, was thrown from the boat.

The boat with McLeod still in it continued along the river until it hit the shore and flipped upside down trapping the young boy underneath. Pennycook was carried in the river's current for approximately two-and-a-half miles before he reached the shore and was able to run back to the boat.

Herb Norwegian arrived on the scene shortly after Pennycook reached the boat.

Norwegian and his friend Petr Cizek were headed up the Mackenzie River in his outboard skiff.

Travelling along the right hand side of the river the pair were above Hansen Island when they saw a red 25-litre gas can floating in the river. Continuing along Norwegian said he saw a few other pieces of gear in the water.

"We thought this didn't look right," Norwegian said.

Approximately four to six kilometres below Rabbitskin Norwegian spotted the source of the gear. A large aluminum boat, between 24 to 30 feet long, was on the shore.

It looked like the boat had hit the shore and turned head over heels, he said.

The bow and about 25 per cent of the boat was still in the water while the stern and the rest of the boat was on the shore. The 150hp outboard motor was upside down with its prop in the air, said Norwegian.

In addition to the boat on the riverbank there were also the passengers.

"There was a person on the shore pretty hysterical," Norwegian said.

Landing alongside Norwegian discovered Pennycook who said his son was injured.

"They were in pretty rough shape," he said.

Both father and son were soaking wet, cold and on the shaded side of the river. Norwegian examined McLeod who wasn't crying but said his face hurt.

"His face was pretty well beaten up," said Norwegian who described it as black and blue.

Norwegian got the pair into his boat and transported them to the other side of the river where it was sunny.

He also made a fire from a pile of driftwood to warm the pair.

"He was shaking really hard, almost hypothermic I think," said Norwegian referring to Pennycook.

Pennycook said he'd already used a satellite phone to call the RCMP. Approximately 40 minutes later a Great Slave Helicopter containing medics arrived followed shortly afterwards by members of the Fort Simpson RCMP detachment in a boat.

Pennycook and McLeod were taken by helicopter to the Fort Simpson Health Centre were they were treated and released on the same day for non-life threatening injuries.

Norwegian said he was glad he happened to arrive in time to lend assistance.

"It was pretty scary stuff especially when you have a little one on board," he said.

"I'm glad nothing really bad happened."

Both Pennycook and McLeod were wearing lifejackets at the time of the accident.

The RCMP received the report of the boating accident at approximately 8:20 p.m. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, said acting Cpl. Cory Forsyth

At this point no charges are pending, Forsyth said.

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) is examining the incident, Stephen Charlie, the regional superintendent, confirmed.

Pennycook is a renewable resources officer with the department. The boat involved in the incident belongs to ENR.